Drink mill



Jam., 2li, 193% F. w. REGEL f DRINKv MILL Filed April 30. 1934 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of mixing uent substances and relates more specically to an irnproved apparatus for disintegrating, milling,

5 mixing, and aerating materials to produce palatable and beneficial drinks or the like.

It is a relatively simple matter to stir or otherwise agitata several liquids in order to produce an ordinary mixture, but when it is attempted to mix pulpy or brous materials-with a liquid to produce a mechanical mixture, the

problem becomes far more diflicult. While the y drink mixers heretofore utilized are capabley of producing a mixture 'of ordinary liquids, they cannot be eectively utilized to produce a suitable mixture of ingredients such as fresh fruits and vegetables, with each other or with uent materials, such as nely divided powder and liquid, in order to create a uniform and creamy uent mixture. These prior commercial drink mixers are not adapted to properly disintegrate solid constituents having a pulpy or brous structure, and they are furthermore unable to properlyaerate a thick or semi-fluent'mixture of materials. Furthermore, the prior devices of this character are slow in operation and are relatively unsanitary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and highly efiicient apparatus for milling, mixing, and aerating various solid and uent substances to produce a homogeneous and creamy mixture.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for milling and mixing drinks and beverages from assorted initial ingredients of either' solid or. liquid character, or both, which apparatus obviates all of the defects of the prior drink mixers and greatly increases the range of usefulness of devices of this kind.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a drink mill which occupies a minimum amount of space, which is highly attractive and original in appearance, and which is 45v conveniently operated and handled by an individual.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a drink mill which eliminates waste of material and which may be readily cleaned andwashcd,soastomaintainitinahighlir sanitary condition at all times.

A iurther specic object of the invention is to provide a drink mill which is susceptible--of mixing and comminuting solid materialsand 55 whichwillgreatlylessenthemixingperiodby the present container is wide at its lower por-V the motive power.

driving comminuted particles of material against and thru a series of lower fins and then creating currents of material which pass upwardly along the sides of the container and then downwardly centrally of the container to displace the material in the bottom of the mill.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drink mill in which the drink to be concocted may be ushed and cooled Aby being passed thru lice, the -arrangement being such that the moving mechanism is protected against direct contact with the ice lumps utilized.

A further specic object of the invention is to provide a dri-nk mill wherein the agitator driving shaft extends thru a bushing for connection 15 with propelling mechanism, and a portion of said driving shaft, within the bushing,- is wrapped with brous material or packing to prevent leakage thru the bushing by virtue vof centrifugal force. 20

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a drink mixing container wherein the container per se is opposite in shape from the shape of the conventional container, in that rected toward the axial portion of the top of I30 the container and thence axially downwardly. Still another speciiic object of the invention is to provide a drink mili arranged so that the container may be easily and rigidly seated on and connected with the base of the housing for These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description. i

A clear conception of embodiments of the several features constituting the present invention, and of the mode oi.' constructing and operating drink mills built in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forminga part of this speci- 45. cation and in' which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a central, vertical, sectional view thru the improved drinkmur and the motive so A smaller scale.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the removable screen, which may be placed over the agitator and -bailies of the mill; and

Fig.5isaviewofthedrinkmillperseona 8. Said container comprises a mainreceptacle portion 9, a neck portion I0 removably mounted on the upper end thereof, and a cap II removablv closing the perforated pouring end I2 of said neck portion. 'I'he main receptacle portion is preferably provided with a laterally extending handle I3.

The container 8 is of circular form in crosssection and of largest diameter at its lower portion with gradually decreasing diameter toward the top thereof, whereby the container walls are upwardly inwardly inclined. The

lower end portion of the container is closed by a bottom member I4 having its lower surface upwardly recessed, as at I5, to provide the container with a lower, annular skirt or fiange AI6. Also, the bottom is formed centrally with a depending bored boss I1 having mounted therein a bearing sleeve I8 .in which is rotatably mounted, an agitator shaft I9. Within said sleeve a reduced portion of said shaft has packing 20 wrapped thereabout, so as to prevent liquid leakage between the sleeve I8 and shaft I9. The upper face of the bottom member I4, within the receptacle, is dished, so as to direct liquid toward the inner side walls of the receptacle.y

To act as the impelling force in the mixing and comminuting of materials, an agitator 2| is provided. Said agitator is formed with a central hub portion 22 into which the upper end of the agitator shaft |9 extends and is fast thereto. Extending outwardly from the hub portion 22 of the agitator are two or more fins 23. 'I'he fins are curved, as in Fig. 2, and each vfln is of right angular form in vertical section with a horizontal portion 24 and a vertical portion 25 extending Yfrom an edge of the horizontal portion. The outer edges of the fin portions 24 are serrated, as at 28. The agitator is mounted so that the under surfaces of the n portions 24 just clear the bottom of the'container, facilitating cleaning operations and leaving the entire upper interior portion of the container free from obstruction. l

Positioned in spaced relation in a circle just outwardly of the outer extremities of the fins of the agitator are aseries of baiiles 21. Said battles are affixed to and project vertically upwardly from the` inner surface of the bottom member I4 of the container. All of the .baiiies are arranged obliquely to radii ofthe circle of bailles, and their inner edge portions may be beveled. To protect the agitator and baiiies from being damaged by pieces of ice or the like,

a removable screen element 28, shown in detail p in Fig. 4, is provided.A 'I'he screen element is formed with a depending annularwire flange 29 which frictionally engages outer portions of the baffles, las in Fig. 1, and by which means the l to standard devices of this character.

vdownwardly by the agitator.

accesos screen element may be held in cap-like relation over the agitator and baiiles.

The motive power instrumentality for the mixing mill may be built substantially similar This includes a housing 30 enclosing a suitably supported electric motor 3|. Thru a. pair of gears 32 and 33, the motor shaft 35 drives a vertical shaft 38 extending centrally thru the top 4I of the housing 30. The top 4I of the housing is formed, inwardly of its periphery, with an upstanding annular collar 31, providing an annular ledge 38, of lower elevation, outwardly thereof.

When the container 8 is to be mounted on the motive power member andconnected therewith for mixing purposes, said container is lownotches 39, and then, upon a further turn of the container, the pinsride into the lowest portions of the notches to seat the container in lowered position upon the top ofthe motor housing. During this movement, the upper end of the vertical shaft 36,v which is squared, enters a squared opening in the agitator shaft I9 to effect a driving connection between said shafts. Proper seating of the container on the motor housing also serves to actuate a switch 42 to close the circuit to the motor 3| whereby the shafts are driven, thru which means the agitator 23 is rapidly turned Within the lower portion of the container. f

When the mill has been thus set into operation,

. mixing, disintegrating, and milling of the mathe disintegrating functions. The action of the A agitator causes a plurality of outward and upward streams of materials against the lower inner wall portions of the container, whereupon the material travels upwardly along said enclosed walls towardthe top of the container. At the upper portion of the container, the flow is in- ,wardly toward the axis of the container, and

then the stream of material is drawn centrally Whenv the mixture includes solid materials which are to be disintegrated, the screen 28 is not utilized. However, the device may be used to mix and chill liquids or liquors and to iiush said liquids -thru pieces of ice. In this event, the screen ispositioned as shown in Fig. 1, so as to protect the agitator and baffles from direct contact with pieces of ice disposed. within the container.l

The' mixing and milling of drinks is accomplished extremely rapidly and upon completion of the operation, the container is grasped by the handle I3 and is removed from the housing 30 by a manipulation which is the reverse of that described in connection with the mounting of 2,628,595 'the container. The cap Il may be removed and thel contents of the containermay be readily poured therefrom into glasses thru the perforated top I2.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur topersons skilled in the art.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. In a drink mill, a ccntainer having a closed lower end portion, a plurality of low disintegrating baies rigidly mounted in spaced, circular formation within said closed end of the, container and obliquely to radii of the container, an agitator revolubly mounted within said closed end of the container within the circle of ballles, the baiiles being positioned so as to obstruct the normal direction of flow of material from the agitator, and a'screen member removably engaging the baiiles and completely covering and enclosing the baies and agitator.

2. In a drink mill, an upwardly reduced receptacle, the lower enlarged end of the receptacle being closed, a plurality of adjacent spaced disintegrating bales projecting upwardly from the bottom of the receptacle, and an agitator revoluble in the lower portion of the receptacle 'and adjacent inner edge portions of the bafes, the bafes being positioned so as to obstruct the normal direction of flow of material fromthe agitator, the faces of the bailles all being oblique to radii of the container, said agitator comprising a pair of curved blades of right angular form in cross-section, certain leading edges of the blades being serrated.

3. In a drink mill, a motor having an upwardly projecting drive shaft, a base supporting said motor, a anged support carried bysaid base and -surrounding a projecting portion of vsaid drive shaft, said flange being provided with three spaced-apart recesses with an inclined lguide surface leading to each recess, a receptacle cooperable with said support and having a closed lower end with an annular skirt depending therefrom, an agitator within the receptacle and having a shaft extending centrally through the receptacle closed lower end, and three spacedapart pins projecting inwardly from the skirt of the receptacle and adapted to ride on said inclined guide surfaces to seat or unseat the receptacle when the receptacle is rotated relative to thebase, seating of said receptacle relative to the base with said pins within said recesses serving to secure'said members together and insuring axial alinement and engagement between the agitator shaft and the drive shaft.

4. In a drink mill, a container having a closed lower end portion, a plurality of relatively closely adjacent, rectilineal disintegrating baffles rigidly and permanently mounted within the container adjacent the lower end portionthereof and in spaced circular formation obliquely to radii vof the container, and an agitator revolubly mounted within said closed end of the container within the circle of baiiles, the baflles being positioned so as to obstruct the normal direction of now of material from the agitator and being low relative to the depth of the container, the leadv ing edges of the agitator blades being angled relative to the radii of the container in the same direction of extent as the faces of the bailles.

FREDERICK W. FLEGEL. 

